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Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals' First Rounder, Reaches Base Four Times In Pro Debut

Kolten Wong, the St. Louis Cardinals' first round pick in the 2011 MLB Draft, got off to a nearly perfect start to his professional career on Monday, going 2-2 with two RBIs, a walk, a sacrifice fly, and, for good measure, on HBP to reach base four times in five plate appearances. Wong, who started at second base for the Cardinals' low-A, full-season Quad Cities River Bandits, also turned a double play.

His debut came just days after he signed with the Cardinals, inking a $1.3 million bonus and taking an aggressive assignment directly to full-season baseball after an outstanding career in college baseball. Wong joins 2010 first-rounder Zack Cox on the Cardinals' fast-track for college stars; Cox signed too late to play significantly in 2010 and began 2011 in high-A Palm Beach before being promoted aggressively to AA Springfield, an assignment Wong could certainly match if he has a hot start in the Quad Cities.

The Cardinals have yet to sign the next prospect on their list, second-rounder Charlie Tilson. Tilson, a high school outfielder, is perceived to be a tougher sign, and was once reported to be looking for a bonus in the seven figures range.